High School Volleyball: Northwestern coach honored by her peers

April 03, 2007

By Deb Smith American News Sports Writer The Northwestern High School volleyball program has drawn plenty of attention at the state level in recent years and now the Wildcats' head coach has been honored. - ora Groft of Northwestern was named volleyball coach of the year by the South Dakota Coaches Association. Wildcat assistant coach Doug Duncan was recently named the assistant coach of the year by the state volleyball coaches association. "I look at the list of those who have been coach of the year in the past and the names are mind-boggling," said Groft, who has posted a 162-22 record in her five years as a head coach. "Kathy Graves (former Northwestern coach), Shelly Buddenhagen (coached Huron to two state titles) - people I've admired for years. Other coaches have been so good to me: Greg Murley (Aberdeen Central), Nancy Hoeke (Milbank) and Connie Nyhaug (Viborg). They are great coaches and just to be put in the same category as those people is an honor." A former player and assistant coach at Northwestern, Groft was named the head coach in 2002. The Wildcats finished fifth at the State B tournament her first season and have now won four consecutive state championships. Groft's teams have won 88 percent of their games with a schedule that is heavy on Class A schools. "Our athletic director Ray Sauerwein is good about our schedule. We like to play the best teams we can find. He is instrumental in helping us get a tough schedule. We play more A schools than B schools," Groft said. This year the Northwestern volleyball team had graduated several top athletes and expectations might have been lowered, but the Wildcats did not accept any excuses. "This team this year was so special. They really stuck together. It would have been easy for them to say, 'We've won three and are satisfied with that.' They didn't do that. They really stepped up to the challenge. They had good team chemistry," Groft said. The Wildcats had a 33-1 record this past season with the only loss to Milbank, the State A champion. Groft has coached the last three Class B volleyball players of the year: Amy Clemensen (2006), Diedra Artz (2005) and Jodi Fischbach (2004). "Coaching is teaching at its best," said Groft. "I was taught to be a volleyball coach. It's a testament to the power of teaching. I was taught to be a volleyball coach by the best and I'm grateful that I have that opportunity." Other nominees for the award were Anita Boeck of Arlington, Nancy Hoeke of Milbank, Holly Lynch of Sioux Falls Roosevelt and Greg Murley of Aberdeen Central. Last year's winner was Leasa Woodward of Yankton.